Travelling this winter? People usually carry a small first-aid kit consisting of things like Band-Aids and Polysporin. But a few simple herbs could come in handy as well, and packing your own herbal first-aid kit is easier than you might think. Bring these items along and you’ll be ready for almost anything.

These suggestions are not meant to take the place of the advice of a medical professional. Nancy Eagles is a chartered herbalist with Inanna Herbal Remedies.

Echinacea tincture
For cuts and scrapes, sterilize wound with echinacea tincture, then bandage.

Aloe-vera gel
To soothe sunburn or mild burns, apply aloe vera to the affected area.

Garlic bulb
For colds or flu, chop one raw garlic clove into pill-size pieces and swallow with water.

Clove buds
For toothache, suck a dried clove close to the pain site.

Lavender essential oil
For insomnia, add two to five drops to your bath water or drop onto your pillowcase. For headache, add lavender to olive oil and massage into shoulders and neck.

Cinnamon
For diarrhea, infuse 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in one cup boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink the tea three times a day.

Peppermint-and-yarrow tea
For fever or sunburn, steep 1 teaspoon peppermint and 1 teaspoon yarrow in 1 cup boiling water. Drink freely.

Vitamin-E capsules
Pierce capsules and apply oil to soothe sunburn.

Tea-tree oil
For insect bites and stings, apply tea-tree oil to reduce itching and irritation.

Echinacea tincture
For cuts and scrapes, sterilize wound with echinacea tincture, then bandage.

Cinnamon
For diarrhea, infuse 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in one cup boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink the tea three times a day.

Lavender essential oil
For insomnia, add two to five drops to your bath water or drop onto your pillowcase. For headache, add lavender to olive oil and massage into shoulders and neck.

Slippery-elm balls
Mix together 3 1/2 tablespoons slippery-elm powder, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 tablespoon ginger powder and form into balls about the diameter of a dime. Roll in a mixture of slippery-elm powder and sugar. Allow to dry.

For anticipated travel sickness, take one ball one or two hours before travel.

Valerian tincture
For insomnia, take 1 teaspoon valerian tincture in water a half-hour before bedtime. For toothache, take 1/2 teaspoon valerian tincture in water every half-hour.